The golden orb weaver spider featured in the first five photos is the spider I find to be most fascinating. The heavier zigzag web closest to its body is sticky, which allows the spider to capture and stun its prey with a quick bite, then to wrap it in silk. With venomous insects, the wrapping precedes the bite, which seems illogical, but must indicate that the spinning is a rapid process. Only 1/2 of all spiders , including the tarantula pictured above, do not spin webs, but all produce silk.
Click on photos to enlarge.
When I moved into my house 22 years ago, I could touch the top of these palm trees. They’ve grown, I’ve shrunk.
For the Nature Photo Challenge: Trees
Click on photos to enlarge.
From Lake Chapala to La Manzanilla to Alabama to Wyoming to the rainforests of Peru, I never met a bird I didn’t have to photograph. Here are a few of the long-legged ones, as directed by the prompt! Yes, I got carried away a bit.
Click on photos to enlarge.
I got a bit carried away, initially intending to only post photos of caterpillars with interesting patterns, but then a few butterflies flew in followed by beetles and bees and wasps and pretty soon I had a crowd. I’ve been fascinated by the incredible number of insects there are in Mexico. I believe all of these beautiful creatures were photographed in my own yard except for the fifth one of the huge hopper on the hand which was photographed in the rainforest in Peru. So, here they are, Denzil!!! Thanks for the prompt
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 